Reigning champions Rivers Hoopers Basketball Club will begin their 2025 Nigeria Basketball Premier League (NBPL) Playoffs (Final Eight) campaign against Hoops and Read.
Following a technical meeting between participating teams and league organisers, which held on Sunday, 26th October, it was revealed that the defending champions will continue their chase for a third straight league title by rekindling hostilities with last year’s beaten finalists.
Hoops and Read have emerged as contenders for the NBPL title in recent years but have fallen short against the KingsMen in competitive basketball, losing their last three meetings, with the most recent being a 67-58 loss at the start of this year’s Inter-Group Phase.
The latest instalment in what is now a growing rivalry is expected to tip off by 4pm today, 27th October.
The KingsMen, who are yet unbeaten through the 2025 NBPL season so far, will then navigate games against Kano Pillars, Nigeria Customs, Gboko City Chiefs, Lagos Legends, and Nile University Spartans before wrapping up proceedings against Kwara Falcons, respectively.
2025 NBPL PLAYOFFS (FINAL EIGHT) FULL SCHEDULE:
Day 1 – Monday, 27th October:
10:00am: Lagos Legends vs. Nigeria Customs
12:00pm: Nile University vs. Kwara Falcons
2:00pm: Kano Pillars vs. Gboko City Chiefs
4:00pm: Rivers Hoopers vs. Hoops and Read
Day 2 – Tuesday, 28th October
10:00am: Kwara Falcons vs. Lagos Legends
12:00pm: Nigeria Customs vs. Gboko City Chiefs
2:00pm: Nile University vs. Hoops and Read
4:00pm: Kano Pillars vs. Rivers Hoopers
Day 3 – Wednesday, 29th October
10:00am: Kwara Falcons vs. Hoops and Read
12:00pm: Lagos Legends vs. Gboko City Chiefs
2:00pm: Nile University vs. Kano Pillars
4:00pm: Rivers Hoopers vs. Nigeria Customs
Day 4-Thursday, 30th October
10:00am: Kano Pillars vs. Kwara Falcons
12:00pm: Nigeria Customs vs. Nile University
2:00pm: Hoops and Read vs. Lagos Legends
4:00pm: Gboko City Chiefs vs. Rivers Hoopers
Day 5 – Friday, 31st October
10:00am: Kano Pillars vs. Hoops and Read
12:00pm: Nile University vs. Gboko City Chiefs
2:00pm: Kwara Falcons vs. Nigeria Customs
4:00pm: Lagos Legends vs. Rivers Hoopers
Day 6- Saturday, 1st November
10:00am: Nigeria Customs vs. Hoops and Read
12:00pm: Gboko City Chiefs vs. Kwara Falcons
2:00pm: Rivers Hoopers vs. Nile University
4:00pm: Lagos Legends vs. Kano Pillars
Day 7 – Sunday, 2nd November
10:00am: Hoops and Read vs. Gboko City Chiefs
12:00pm: Nigeria Customs vs. Kano Pillars
2:00pm: Nile University vs. Lagos Legends
4:00pm: Rivers Hoopers vs. Kwara Falcons
All games will be played at the Basketball Stadium, #59 Niger Street, Port Harcourt Township.